species breed while 104 species are winter migrants and with a few other vagrant species (Grimmett et al., 1998). Literature on historical records of birdlife of the region is very scanty. Forsyth's (1889) casual remarks indicated that several species like black-headed yellow bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus), painted spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata), lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), and Indian golden-backed three-toed woodpecker (Dinopium javanense) which are now found only in small restricted areas were apparently quite common and widespread around late 19th century. The recent rediscovery of the forest spotted owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti), endemic to Central Indian Highlands after about 114 years (Rasmussen 1998), underscores the significance of more avifaunal studies in the region for conservation planning. The forests of central India are also one of the few known refuges for several globally threatened and restricted-range species like Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus), spotted grey creeper (Salpornis spilonotus), white-bellied minivet (Pericrocotus erythropygius), Asian brown flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) and green munia (Amandava formosa) (Ali & Ripley, 1983). A recent survey on breeding birds of Central Indian Highlands by Wildlife Institute of India (Jayapal et al., 2005) has added several new breeding records and range-extensions like crested goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus), Oriental scops owl (Otus sunia), spot-bellied eagle owl (Bubo nipalensis), drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris), ashy drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus), and striated grassbird (Megalurus palustris). References Ali, S. 1949. The Satpura trend as an ornithogeographical highway. Proceedings of the National Institute of Sciences, India, 15:379-386. Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley, 1983. The Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, Bombay. Forsyth, J. 1889. The Highlands of Central India. Chapman and Hall, London. Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp, & T. Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. Jayapal, R., Q. Qureshi, & R. Chellam. 2005. Some significant records of birds from the central Indian highlands of Madhya Pradesh. Indian Birds, 1:98-102. Rasmussen, P. 1998. Rediscovery of an Indian enigma: the Forest Owlet. Bulletin of the Oriental Bird Club, 27:50-51. Rodgers, W.A. & Panwar H.S. 1988. Planning a Wildlife Protected Area Network in India vol I – The Report. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.